Affordable Pool Removal | DIY Guide

Pool Removal Scranton PA
Removing a pool in Scranton, PA

If you look in your back yard, you may see a pool that has reached the end of its life. Many above-ground pools have a lifespan of 20 years, and after that can become problematic. Pool removal may be the only option to save a pool that has been neglected or is failing.

If you realize that your pool is ready to get removed, continue reading to find out how simple it is to demolish a pool.

Get Pumping

Pool Removal Wilkes-Barre PA
Pumping out an old pool

The first step in demolishing an above ground pool is to pump it out! Typically, the easiest way to do this is to rent a trash pump from a rental company.

We recommend renting a 3″ trash pump, as smaller pumps take exponentially longer to pump out a pool. Typically, this rental cost is $50 for the day. It is important to note where you are draining the pool water to, as pools hold thousands of gallons of water and can easily flood a street or neighbor’s yard!

Remember that when operating a trash pump that you must prime the pump with water in order to get it pumping. Once it starts pumping, stand back and let the water flow!

Begin Cutting

Above Ground Pool Removal
Cutting up old pool

Now that the pool is empty, the next step is to begin cutting the old pool up. The best tool to use is a reciprocating saw, or “Sawzall”.

Purchase a pack of good-quality high tooth count metal cutting blades and safety glasses to make sure you have the right tools for the job. Cut the pool into 6 or 7 sections. This way they are small and light enough to load into a truck when finished.

Once the pool is cut up, the next step is to remove the liner. Pool liners can get very heavy, and cannot be taken out with household trash. Typically, you will need to rent a dumpster or hire a junk removal company to haul the liner and other debris away.

Cleanup

Pool Removal Scranton PA
Filling in a pool

Once the pool has been drained and cut up, the next part is the most important – cleaning up! The metal from the pool frame & sides can be taken to a scrap yard and you can expect to receive roughly $50 in scrap value for the metal.

As stated previously, the liner will need to be hauled to a landfill yourself, or placed in a dumpster or hauled away by a junk removal service.

Once the area is clear, there may be a low spot in area where the pool sat. Typically, 5-10 tons of topsoil will fill in the area so you can plant grass over it.

Hire the Professionals

Does this sound like a lot of work for you? For a homeowner to complete this project, it will take a full day of work for 2 people, and incur approximately $250-500 in expenses depending on certain factors.

Hiring a company such as A+ Enterprises Demolition Service may be a better option, as most of our above ground pool demolition & removal projects are under $1,000 and we do all the work and removing the items for you! We serve the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area and all of Northeast PA.


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    • Awesome company! My uncle passed away, and we were cleaning out his house. We had a lot of items to donate to the Salvation Army. I called the Salvation Army but they couldn’t pick up for a month. I called A Plus & they came two days later. The Two young men who came to pick up were polite, respectful & very efficient. The price was reasonable too. I will definitely use A Plus in the future.

      Kevin Kittrick Avatar Kevin Kittrick
      May 6, 2021

      Absolutely amazing! Highly recommended! I recently moved to Pennsylvania and purchased a fixer upper in Luzern County. I had a large pile of debris from the house that I needed to get rid of. I called A+ Junk Removal and spoke with Sal. He was extremely professional and very personable. He was able to work with my schedule which was greatly appreciated. Sal also contacted me through text to remind me of my scheduled appointment. Joe and Andrew showed up on time to give me an estimate for my junk pile. They gave me a great price and got right to work. Both Joe and Andrew were very polite and extremely professional. Very friendly as well. They did an amazing job! I couldn’t have asked for a better crew to come and do this job for me. I am extremely appreciative for Sal, Joe and Andrew. I highly recommend this company and will definitely use them again on the future. Thank you so much A+ Enterprises!

      Rebecca DeKonty Avatar Rebecca DeKonty
      March 26, 2020

      Sal was great to work with. I was so stressed about a large deck in the back of my house that was collapsing. Sal came right over and gave me a very fair price and two days later the job was done. And a really good job. He even hauled away a piece of junk for me at the last minute. I highly recommend this company and plan to use them again as the need arises

      Pam cortese Avatar Pam cortese
      April 10, 2019
    • Top notch. I called and spoke with a Guy named Sal. Very friendly and excellent Customer Service, 100%. I was set up in minutes. The pricing was great. Delivered it next day. When it was time for pick up I advised that I would be working and not able to hear the door so just knock hard. I went out on my Lunch break wondering what the heck? And the Dumpster was gone. Great service. Great Price. I called about 6 Dumpster Rental places and of all of them, A+ Was definitely the best and Props to Sal. Great Service. Truly is A+

      Baby Cakes Avatar Baby Cakes
      June 10, 2020

      Would definitely recommend this company for anyone needing junk removal! Super nice owner. He and another young man came to my home and were very efficient getting rid of our junk in about 90 minutes. If you’re looking for a junk removal service, definitely check out this company. Thanks, Sal!

      Shannon Meier Avatar Shannon Meier
      August 10, 2019

      A+ Enterprise . . .gave an accurate estimate. . .did a PROFESSIONAL job. . .the team was "on-time" completed the work on schedule. . . very easy to work with. . . Highly Recommend!

      Wes Coates Avatar Wes Coates
      January 22, 2020
    • A+ is a first-rate, highly professional outfit. They offered courteous, efficient, same-day service at a more-than-fair price. I recommend them with great confidence.

      Joel Shuman Avatar Joel Shuman
      July 8, 2019

      Sal really helped us out. We needed some junk removed right away and he got there within a couple of hours, was very professional and polite and did not charge an arm and a leg. He has a customer for life in us now!

      Margaret Esopi Avatar Margaret Esopi
      December 24, 2018

      I would highly recommend this company. Very respectful employees. Worked efficiently, were conscientious and very careful. Fairly priced and made this cleanup of 50 years worth of “things” easy.

      Kathleen Doyle Avatar Kathleen Doyle
      October 10, 2020
    • These guys are the best! Very professional and super courteous and easy to work with! We had a tight space to get it into driveway and they made it look easy and didnt even leave a scratch !! Great prices too!! Thanks for helping us out!!! John and Maryjo

      john morrissey Avatar john morrissey
      July 18, 2020

      They cleaned out my grandmas house today in under 6 hours. And we had a lot of stuff! Friendly guys and great work!! Definitely recommend.

      Grace Baker Avatar Grace Baker
      July 25, 2020

      I would highly recommend them they did a great job and the men were very hardworking and very nice I intend to get them back for more at another time

      Regina Pokrifka Avatar Regina Pokrifka
      August 11, 2020
    • Fast service, excellent price. Picked up on the same morning that we called. Will definately recommend and call again. Sal was very professional. Guys who showed up at our home were professional as well. We prefer to use local companies and this is one we expect to keep on our list.

      T Seidel Avatar T Seidel
      July 8, 2019

      I called and it was picked up immediately and scheduled the service with ease. Crew arrived and job was completed as promised. Crew was professional, friendly and courteous. Very impressed.

      A Thur Avatar A Thur
      March 13, 2021

      I can't say enough about Sal. He was very patient, knowledgeable, and went out of his way to ensure my company was taken care of. I absolutely recommend anyone to use this company. They get in and out very quickly and offer a great price. They also stick to their word which is very rare now-a-days!

      Mark Van Dyke Avatar Mark Van Dyke
      October 25, 2019

    Pool Removal FAQs

    What does pool removal cost?

    The average cost to pump out & demolish an above-ground pool is roughly $900. That price includes all labor, demolition, cleanup, and disposal fees.

    Is there scrap value in an old pool?

    The average pool is worth between $50 and $100 in scrap value depending on the weight.

    How do I drain the water out of a pool?

    You can drain the water out of a pool by renting a 3 inch trash pump and pumping the pool out. Do not pump out in-ground pools more than halfway, as damage may occur.

    What do you fill in pools with?

    Depending on the customer’s needs and budget, we fill in pools with either raw fill dirt or structural fill (modified crusher run). The price varies depending on the type of material used.